hi all!

quick question I need answered to help me decide whether I should spend some dough on a software.

I need microsoft publisher. my brother has publisher 97 that I can install for free. However, I found a publisher 98 on ebay for about $35 (s/h incl.). is there a big difference between the two years? I heard 98 has some new features and is user-friendly--main reason I am considering getting it. but if P97 is not much different than P98, then I don't want to waste money buying P98. does anyone have any experience with the two?

I'd like to get publisher 2000 or up, but even on ebay it still $$$. reason I want an MS brand is because I want transfering word docs to the publisher program easy! my current generic brand changes the spacing of my MS word docs when transfering.

btw, I am using both windows xp home and pro on my two computers if that is any help in choosing 97 or 98. thanks!

If your just doing handbills and stuff 97 works ok. You won't be able to use any versions of Word higher than 97 with it. Go for the freebie.

I need it to make a book of sorts, among other things, like newsletter and stuff. I have MS word 2000 on my laptop (XP home) and MS word 97 or higher, dunno which version (XP pro). I'm tempted by the freebie (trust me, I'm cheap!). but I'm fed up with my crappy no-name brand publishing program and really want something that is easy to work with and is super compatible with MS Office programs (hence my desire for MS publisher). if people recom. P98, then I will get the 98 ver. from ebay before someone else buys it! thanks for the reply!